Harvest 2016

Just wrapped up this weekend. Five tons total.

We picked the Chardonnay September 16, ten days earlier than last year, and the Cab Franc October 11-14, which is three weeks later than last year. Growers around Eastern Washington are all experiencing late ripening of red grapes this season. Extended "hang time" is a good thing; it allows the full flavors of the grapes to slowly develop.

Numbers for the Chardonnay were:
Sugars: 24.9 Brix
Titratable Acids (TA): .58
pH: 3.45


Numbers for the Cab Franc were:
Sugars: 25 Brix
TA: .37
pH: 3.75

Many thanks to Beaumont Cellars and Camas Cove Cellars for their continued support.
And big thanks to a first-rate crew: Panchito, Leonel, Gilbert, Magda, Lesto, Ramona and Pablo.

MRJ No.1 Arrives

Rodney Harwood

 MRJ-90 No. arives at Grant County International Airport Wednesday under a hail of water as the Port of Moses Lake welcomes the first of four regional jets

MRJ lands at Grant County International Airport

Posted: Wednesday, September 28, 2016 9:40 pm | Updated: 9:51 pm, Wed Sep 28, 2016.

By RODNEY HARWOOD

MOSES LAKE — It left the land of the rising sun on Monday and it seemed only fitting that the next-generation regional jet circled Grant County International Airport and came in under the backdrop of the Columbia Basin setting sun to gently touch down on one of the longest runways in the world Wednesday evening.

The much anticipated, long awaited arrival of the MRJ-90 No. 1 in Moses Lake was chronicled by as many as 10 Japanese television crews reporting back to Japan where the historic flight is breaking news on a global perspective.

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. is committed to achieving steady progress in flight tests with the assistance of the Moses Lake Flight Test Center at Grant County International Airport; Seattle Engineering Center and Mitsubishi Aircraft Headquarters in Japan.

The arrival of MRJ No. 1 was met with a round of applause as the pilots and crew walked down the stairs of the aircraft outside the $9 million, 65,000-square-foot hangar that will house the regional jets while they are being flight-tested.

“The MRJ has finally arrived in Moses Lake. This is a great day and a great milestone for the MRJ program,” said Hitoshi “Hank” Iwasa, executive vice president and deputy head of Moses Lake Flight Test Center.

“We selected this area because of our relationship with the Port of Moses Lake and AeroTEC. We will work together to make the MRJ one of the best regional jets in the world.”

The relationship between Moses Lake and Mitsubishi flight testing is a natural fit. Moses Lake hosted Japan Airlines for some 40 years while the airline trained pilots in Grant County. The lack of air traffic in Grant County makes it a prime location for flight testing, for which it has a storied history of hosting numerous airlines and aerospace companies.

AeroTEC president and CEO Lee Human said the flight testing on the MRJ is not only a milestone, but Grant County International Airport is one of the best places in the world to achieve results.

“It’s not easy to fly and develop an aircraft across the Pacific, so this is a big milestone,” Human said. “They are here in Moses Lake for a very important reason. This the best place in the world to do flight testing. We can operate efficiently, sensibly and we have great support from the Port of Moses Lake and the FAA. I believe this is just the beginning of Moses Lake being seen by the world as great place for flight testing.”

The day was two and a half years in the making, but as the MRJ circled the 13,500-foot runway prior to its final approach, the pilot couldn’t resist tipping the wings in an aeronautical version of a thumbs up and the Japanese media captured every moment for posterity.

Port of Moses Lake commissioner Kent Jones was a part of the process every step of the way. He echoed the milestone achievement and the arrival of what is expected to be four MRJs by the end of the year.

“Today was a ceremonial day, but now we have to go to work,” he said. “Everybody is ready to go and from the Port’s perspective, our job gets easier now.”

Mitsubishi has received 223 firm orders for its new regional jet, according to a report from the Puget Sound Business Journal.

“Our (AeroTEC) facility here in Moses Lake has dedicated our support to the MRJ,” Human said. “Words can not explain how important this project is. This program is the cornerstone of the next Japanese aerospace advancement and it is so important to all of us.”

From an aeronautical perspective, it is groundbreaking. But Port of Moses Lake executive director Jeff Bishop said the economic benefits to the area with the three-year project is as groundbreaking.

“There’s so many different layers of benefit from this project,” he said. “The Port has signed a four-year lease with AeroTEC. AeroTEC’s employment numbers are pretty close to 200 and those are all permanent jobs here at the airport.

“Mitsubishi has brought in between 150 to 200 employees. You look at the parking lot and it’s full. Those are all leased from Bud Clary, so that’s a local business that is benefiting. They’re staying in motels, they’re buying products, so it’s beneficial in many different ways.”

It’s been a long time in the making and as the Japanese filed stories seen halfway around the globe, the day took on a world-wide perspective.

“Japanese culture is relationship based as far as business goes,” Bishop said. “When you look at the cluster of all the companies involved. Those all represent courtships that sometimes span decades. We’re planting seeds today for opportunities down the path."

There's GOLD in Them Thar Grapes!

Pete Beaumont of Beaumont Cellars won a gold medal for his 2014 Cabernet Franc made with fruit from our very first vintage!

The 2016 Wenatchee Wine & Food Festival wine competition (formerly known as the North Central Washington Wine Awards) judged 233 wines from 35 Washington wineries. Approximately 15% of the wines earned Gold or Double Gold.

Here is the write-up, as reported in Foothills Magazine:

GOLD

  

                 

Cabernet Franc

Beaumont Cellars 2014 Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $32 (60 cases)

Judges’ comments: Winemaker Pete Beaumont caught our eye a few years ago with his initial release of red wines, and his talent in the cellar continues to grow. This remarkable Cab Franc unveils aromas of Bing cherry and dried blueberry, followed by elegant flavors of cherry, red currant and loganberry. It’s all balanced with fine-grained tannins that lead to a long, elegant finish.

Quincy tasting room open noon to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday; hours change seasonally. 8634 Road U N.W., Quincy

(509)787-5586;beaumontcellars.com

Woodinville tasting room open 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday; 1 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday 19151 144 Ave. N.E., Unit E, Woodinville

(425) 482-6349;beaumontcellars.com 

Chief Joseph

On the way we passed through the town of Nespelem on the Colville Indian Reservation. Chief Moses, for whom Moses Lake is named, is buried near Nespelem. (Moses was an irreverent man; when the missionaries asked him "Don't you want to go to heaven?" he replied "No, I just want to go to Nespelem.")

The old-timer at the gas station had never heard of Chief Moses. He did tell us how to find the gravesite of Moses's great friend, the legendary Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, who in 1877 famously declared "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

Joseph lies in a humble cemetery on the fringe of town, a few miles away from the resting place of his old pal Chief Moses.

Road Trip to Republic

Took a road trip north this weekend to the scenic town of Republic, WA. Spectacularly beautiful country. Lots of bikers, even a Porsche 911 rally.

At the end of a rather lengthy drive we rewarded ourselves at the local watering hole, Republic Brewing, located in the old town fire hall. This sign inside purports to date from 1905.

Beer prices have gone up 10,000% over the past 111 years.

Veraison

...when the grapes start to turn and the ripening season begins.

The birds are always aggressive. The very first pink grape I found in in the vineyard had a peck taken out of it. So I put up TubeMan. He'll buy us a few days before the birds get used to him. We'll put up the netting next week.

It's been a cool (as in cool temperatures) first half of the season. But the real magic happens after veraison, so there's still time for a great vintage. Hope for two months of days in the low 90s.

More Big News For Moses Lake

Mitsubishi engineers arrive in Moses Lake from Japan

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The MRJ

The MRJ will be flight-tested over the next three years in Moses Lake.

Posted: Thursday, May 19, 2016 9:00 am

By RODNEY HARWOOD, Staff Writer | 0 comments

MOSES LAKE — After years of putting things in place, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. is ready to move on its plans to flight test the new Mitsubishi Regional Jet in Moses Lake.

Close to 100 Japanese engineers have arrived in Moses Lake for the three-year flight test program, which is expected bring about 400 people from the U.S. and Japan.

“I think it will be a tremendous experience for us,” Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. Vice President of Corporate Affairs Kenji Okimoto said. “The actual flight testing should begin sometime in summer.”

The new Mitsubishi Regional Jet is a significant project for Mitsubishi. The Japanese company chose Moses Lake to flight-test the jets because the airspace is quieter and less cluttered than in Japan. Mitsubishi engineers have been flying a Cessna jet in and out of Grant County International Airport, using it as a proxy to iron out flight test procedures.

“Because MRJ has not sufficiently progressed to the point that they can get permission to fly it here, they have brought in a proxy plane to practice on running through their processes to make sure the equipment is working properly,” Port of Moses Lake Executive Director Jeffrey Bishop said. “It’s like a dry run, so they are rehearsing the process they are going to use.”

After some setbacks and a delay last year, the arrival of Japanese is a reflection of how well the MRJ flight test program has been going in Japan. The timeline for the Grant County portion of the program has moved exceptionally quickly, considering that in February engineers found problems with the jets’ wing-body joint, which required reinforcement.

The regional jets are designed to carry 70 to 90 passengers. The first MRJ90 has completed 22 test flights in Japan, and the second flight test aircraft is scheduled to fly this month.

“We’re just excited that it’s finally happening after years of prep work,” Bishop said. “Last night when I went to the barbecue, it looked like there were already 100 to 200 people here to me. Of course AeroTec will have a large number of English-speaking employees here. I think we’ll see a increase in the number of Japanese nationals soon. Right now we’re taking buses of people to Wenatchee to process the Social Security.”

Moses Lake and Grant County will see significant boost to the economy, especially in the area of housing, food and other purchases.

“Purchasing a home doesn’t seem like an option right now, so it will more likely be in the form of rental property,” Okimoto said. “I went to a couple of grocery stores in Moses Lake and definitely feel like groceries and ingredients are available.”

Bishop said there are several other outlets available in Moses Lake to address their needs.

“Frank’s Market in town specializes in Japanese food products,” he said. “Safeway carries quite a few Japanese food products, so there are options. There is the potential that (Mitsubishi) will be running two shifts, so there’s negotiations going on in providing lunches, dinners. But it appears that Moses Lake has everything they will need.”

Okimoto just laughed, saying the old adage, “When in Rome,” works for him.

“We’ll be fine,” he said. “Some Japanese people might need other ingredients. If they need something special, they can always go to Seattle and get whatever they need.”

Since it is projected to be a three-year project, several engineers and employees are bringing their families and children. The Moses Lake School District can expect to see a number of Japanese nationals in the local schools next fall.

“From what I understand, there won’t be many high school-aged children. It’s mostly elementary- aged children,” Bishop said. “They were very insistent that their children attend a public school. It’s considered a positive experience to have exposure to English-speaking cultures. English is a mandatory subject in Japan. They see it as a great learning opportunity for their children.”

CB Tech

Open house yesterday at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center. This is a $20 million facility opened in 2014 to offer STEM-based instruction to area young people. Fabulous facility with state-of-the-art equipment. Courses include:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Automotive Technology
• Cosmetology
• Culinary Arts
• Computer Science
• Multimedia Design
• Construction Technology
• Engineering
• Pre-Nursing

Their motto is On Time, Every Day, With a Positive Attitude. The kids are taught how to present themselves to the public and potential employers in a professional way. They all greeted us by looking us in the eye, speaking clearly, with firm handshakes. Very impressive.

The facility and programs represent a great asset for the future of the Moses Lake community.

Ten Pin Brewery

Ten Pin Brewing Co., one of two Moses Lake craft breweries, held a grand opening this weekend for their spanking new 30-barrel brewery at Highway 17 & Stratford Road. We got a guided tour from brewmeister Jim Madden.

Beautiful facility and addition to the city. Gonna be fun watching their success in the coming years.

Construction Projects in Moses Lake Booming

Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald

Posted: Friday, April 22, 2016 4:45 pm

MOSES LAKE — With the third largest lake in Washington state and numerous commercial and residential opportunities, Moses Lake is in high demand both as a place to live and play.

‘Tis the season – the construction season, that is – and there are building projects all over the city.

WinCo Foods is finally ready to move forward after a Grant County Superior Court judge dismissed a case challenging the employee-owned store’s efforts to build in Moses Lake. WinCo has been issued a building permit to build a store located between Stratford Road and Central Drive, adjacent to Moses Lake Town Center. Square footage is unavailable, but the store is to be located on about 16 acres, according to city documents.

“Compared to last year at this same time, permit numbers are up and revenues are up,” Community Development Director Gil Alvarado said. “In a snapshot, things are definitely in a much better economic environment this year than they were last year during the same reporting period.”

While there is no certain date as to when construction will begin on the new WinCo store, there is plenty in the works.

On the residential side, Hayden Homes’ Crossroads North Phase I west of Highway 17 and Nelson Road is fully involved in its six-phase housing development.

“There’s another 150 lots in six phases to the Crossroads project,” said senior planner Anne Henning. “Aho Construction has close to 200 lots to build west of town near Blue Heron Park. It’s been really busy this spring and that usually means good things for growth and development.”

There are 180 units going in at the Chelsea Park Apartments near Crestview Christian School on West Valley Road. All of the excavation and grading on Pioneer Way is the site of another apartment complex called Pioneer Meadows.

“We just issued that permit. It’s going to be a 189-unit apartment complex,” Alvarado said. “The Solara Apartments in the 1300 block of Nelson Road is 228 units.”

Currently, plans are underway to build a two-story Grant Transit Authority traffic center to house buses at 116 Fifth Ave. “It’ll be a park and ride similar to what you see in downtown Wenatchee,” Alvarado said. “We’ve been working on this for awhile.”

 Plans for a new Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott are underway on the vacant property on Maiers Road. The hotel will be three stories and will have 84 rooms, according to developer John Ferguson. The new Fairfield Inn & Suites in Moses Lake will operate as a Marriott franchise once its construction is complete.

Ten Pin Brewing Co. is ready to move into its new phase of development with the completion of its new 14,000 square foot facility with a custom-built 30-barrel brewing system that will give the brewery an initial capacity of 7,500 barrels per year, with room to grow. The new facility is adjacent to the iconic Lake Bowl, which the Russell Family has owned since 1957, has the capability to expand quickly to 21,000-barrel operation.

The MACC Dispatch Center is in the initial stages and just had the Shearwall inspection completed, Alvarado said.

Other projects in the works:

— Safeway is doing a small remodel of the produce department for expanded service.

— Samaritan Hospital, 801 E. Wheeler, is doing a remodel to its cardiac and ultrasound center

— The third marijuana retail store, called Funkle Buds, is opening on West Broadway Avenue and Third Avenue.

— Ernie’s Truck Stop is doing exterior upgrades to its facilities.

— A new sushi restaurant called Sumo Express will be opening at 933 N. Stratford Rd.

— Pita Pit on East Broadway Avenue is wrapping up its remodeling stages.

Signage

The monument rock recently got fresh paint. The challenge was matching the exact blue in the Cayuse logo. I think it pops nicely.

Also replaced the old "McConihe Flats Vineyard" sign at the top of the hill (the area I've always referred to as "the Triangle"). I framed the new sign and planted some tall ornamental grasses next to it. The area should look great as everything fills in.

I really like the new look. It's definitely better having all the signage consistent.

The old vineyard sign will now retire to a place of honor in the Man Cave...

Tasting the Wine

As an update to the last post: After letting it rest for a couple weeks, we opened a bottle of the wine Beaumont made from our grapes. Very nice; opens with some fruit, then a medium body, and then that classic, pleasantly astringent Cabernet Franc finish (which will get more interesting with age). Great wine with food I think.

The next day we stopped by Camas Cove Cellars, to whom we've also supplied Cab Franc and Chardonnay over the past two years. We brought some of the Beaumont for comparison. Dennis & Nancy tend to let their reds age in the barrel longer than many wineries, so our 2014 was still in the cask. Dennis pulled a sample and we compared the two. They are actually quite distinct. The Camas Cove, for example, has more fruit throughout at this stage of development. Conversely, Pete Beaumont blended a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon, which plays off the structure of the Cab Franc nicely.

Both are truly terrific winemakers and it is really cool to taste their handiwork and get good feedback for continuing to improve the vineyard and fruit.

First Vintage in the Bottle

Beaumont Cellars bottled their 2014 grapes last week, including 100+ cases of Cabernet Franc from our vineyard! It's the first of our grapes to make it to market. We planted in 2009. Seven years later we have wine in the bottle ready for release.

Pete Beaumont invited me to come up to the winery in Quincy to help the crew with the bottling. They bring in this mobile bottling unit with a production line - filling, corking, capsuling, labeling and boxing - all in this self-contained truck.

I believe we bottled a total of 1,800 cases (all varieties) in about ten hours.

Pete's a very fine winemaker and we're fortunate to have our grapes in good hands.

It will be fun to see the tasting notes and the response this wine gets from consumers and wine media. We'll get a few cases and share with all the friends who've shared this journey with us.

Budbreak 2016

Panchito and I planted about 75 new Cab Franc vines, fill-ins for vines that have died or where there was extra space. These were some fancy clones (vine varieties) from Inland Desert Nursery in Benton City.





                                                                                                                                                           



It was a spectacular spring day. Nowhere I'd rather have been than in the vineyard.

A Cayuse Spring Sunrise

The fields are lush in the summer, but the colors are also beautiful this time of year. Here they look like chocolate after being freshly tilled and planted.

The growing season has begun.

Pruning 2016

Started pruning this week, earliest ever. We had driven to Yakima and seen many of the vineyards there already pruned or in the process, so figured I better get my rear end out there.

Best job in the vineyard, though. Very little bending over, and it always feels good to get a vine looking spruced up; kinda like spring cleaning.